Educational Services · Sault Sainte Marie, MI

Lake Superior State University

According to OSHA enforcement records (2010–2026), Lake Superior State University has a relatively clean safety record: 2 violations across 3 inspections. See the full breakdown below.

Lower half by penalty50% serious
$900
OSHA penalties
2
Violations cited
3
OSHA inspections
$611
Back wages owed

Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, MI has been the subject of 3 OSHA workplace inspections and 2 citations since 2010, according to enforcement records from the U.S. Department of Labor. Total penalties assessed: $900. The employer also has 1 Wage and Hour Division (WHD) case on record, covering Fair Labor Standards Act enforcement. All enforcement data below is sourced from the DOL public enforcement databases at data.dol.gov.

The record in one line

OSHA has inspected Lake Superior State University 3 times over 1 year - more than twice a year on average. These inspections resulted in 2 violations, averaging 0.7 per inspection, on the lighter side. Its total OSHA penalty ranks in the lower half of penalized employers nationally. Of these, 1 were classified as serious - indicating hazards that could cause death or serious harm. Against the Educational Services industry average of 3 inspections per employer, this sits roughly in line with peers (1.2x the sector average) on inspection frequency. The Department of Labor also found wage violations, with $611 in back wages owed to 21 affected workers. For comparison, Ocongi, LLC in Tucson, AZ is another educational services employer with 2 OSHA inspections on record and $1,500 in current penalties.

0.7
violations per inspection
50.0%
of violations were serious
12%
of penalized employers rank lower
$611
in back wages recovered

How Lake Superior State University compares on OSHA penalties

Total current penalty vs the Educational Services per-employer average

in penalties

What this shows Lake Superior State University runs well below peers (0.30x the sector average) in total OSHA penalties.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts As of 2026

Where this penalty ranks nationally

Total current OSHA penalty vs every U.S. employer with a nonzero penalty

$900 Top 12% most affordable more affordable than 88% of 100,495 U.S. employers with a penalty

$0–$5,000: 44,435 U.S. employers with a penalty (44%). This entry sits in this band. $5,000–$10,000: 20,628 U.S. employers with a penalty (21%). Above this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 11,165 U.S. employers with a penalty (11%). Above this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6,629 U.S. employers with a penalty (7%). Above this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 4,205 U.S. employers with a penalty (4%). Above this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 2,885 U.S. employers with a penalty (3%). Above this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 2,052 U.S. employers with a penalty (2%). Above this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1,483 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1,120 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $45,000–$50,000: 792 U.S. employers with a penalty (1%). Above this entry. $50,000–$55,000: 5,101 U.S. employers with a penalty (5%). Above this entry. This employer $0 $55,000 every penalized U.S. employer, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more U.S. employers with a penalty. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA enforcement extracts · 2026

What the Data Says About Lake Superior State University

The federal enforcement record for Lake Superior State University in Sault Sainte Marie, MI includes 3 OSHA inspections and 2 violations, translating to 0.67 violations per inspection. Of those violations, 1 (50.0%) were classified as serious, 0 (0.0%) as willful, and 0 (0.0%) as repeat. Serious violations denote hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm; willful and repeat categories indicate intentional disregard or recurrence of previously cited hazards.

OSHA assessed $1,800 in initial penalties against this employer, later adjusted to a current total of $900 - a 50.0% reduction. Average penalty per inspection works out to $300. Against the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer, this record runs well below peers (0.30x the sector average). The Wage and Hour Division added 1 case producing $611 in back wages owed to 21 affected workers.

Inspection activity spans from 2024-04-29 to 2025-10-20, a window of roughly 1 year.

Enforcement detail

OSHA Inspection History

Total Inspections

3

First Inspection

2024-04-29

Last Inspection

2025-10-20

Inspection Span

1 yr

Violations / Inspection

0.7

Avg Penalty / Inspection

$300

Industry Avg / Inspection

$1,198

What this shows 3 inspections over 1 year, averaging 0.7 violations per visit. That's $300 per inspection vs. the Educational Services average of $1,198.

Enforcement detail

Violation Breakdown

1

Serious

50.0% of total

0

Willful

0.0% of total

0

Repeat

0.0% of total

1

Other-Than-Serious

50.0% of total

What this shows Serious violations involve hazards that could cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate intentional or knowing disregard of the law. Repeat violations are for hazards previously cited within the past 5 years.

Enforcement detail

Penalty Analysis

Initial Penalty Assessed

$1,800

Current Penalty Amount

$900

Penalty Reduction

50.0%

Combined Impact (OSHA + WHD)

$1,511

What this shows Penalties were reduced by $900 from the initial assessment of $1,800. Reductions may result from informal settlements, formal contests, or negotiated agreements with OSHA.

Wage & Hour Findings

WHD Cases
1
Back Wages Owed
$611
Employees Affected
21
WHD Violations
22
Avg Back Wages per Employee
$29
Avg Back Wages per Case
$611

The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division found that Lake Superior State University owed $611 in back wages to 21 employees across 1 case and 22 violations. WHD enforces federal labor laws including the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), covering minimum wage, overtime pay, and child labor standards.

Industry Safety Context: Educational Services

How Lake Superior State University compares to the Educational Services sector, which has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker.

Metric Lake Superior State University Industry Avg
Inspections 3 2.5
Violations 2 5.7
Total Penalty $900 $3,013
Avg Penalty per Inspection $300 $1,198

Nearby & Similar Employers in Educational Services

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lake Superior State University safe to work at?
Based on OSHA records, Lake Superior State University's workplace safety record is relatively clean, with fewer violations than typical. The employer has 2 violations across 3 inspections, including 1 serious violations. Compared to Educational Services industry peers, this is below average for penalties. Review the full inspection history below for details.
How many OSHA violations does Lake Superior State University have?
Lake Superior State University has 2 OSHA violations on record, including 1 serious, 0 willful, and 0 repeat violations. The total current penalty amount is $900.
How many OSHA inspections has Lake Superior State University had?
Lake Superior State University has had 3 OSHA inspections, with the first recorded on 2024-04-29 and the most recent on 2025-10-20. This averages 0.7 violations per inspection.
What is the total penalty amount for Lake Superior State University?
Lake Superior State University has been assessed $900 in current OSHA penalties, reduced from an initial assessment of $1,800 (a 50.0% reduction). Additionally, $611 in back wages were owed through WHD enforcement.
Does Lake Superior State University have any serious or willful violations?
Yes. Lake Superior State University has 1 serious violations. Serious violations involve hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm. Willful violations indicate the employer intentionally or knowingly disregarded the law.
Has Lake Superior State University been cited for wage theft?
Yes. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division has recorded 1 enforcement case against Lake Superior State University, resulting in $611 in back wages owed to 21 affected workers. These cases involve violations of federal labor laws including minimum wage, overtime, and other worker protections.
What industry does Lake Superior State University operate in?
Lake Superior State University operates in the Educational Services sector (NAICS code 611310). This industry has 3,199 employers tracked by PlainWorker, with 8,044 total OSHA inspections and $9.64M in cumulative penalties.
What should I do if Lake Superior State University owes me wages?
If you believe Lake Superior State University owes you wages, you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division at dol.gov/agencies/whd/contact/complaints or by calling 1-866-487-9243. WHD investigates violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act including unpaid minimum wage, overtime, and unauthorized deductions. The DOL has previously found $611 in back wages owed by this employer across 1 case.
How does Lake Superior State University's safety record compare to industry average?
Lake Superior State University's total OSHA penalty of $900 is below the Educational Services industry average of $3,013 per employer. The employer has 3 inspections compared to the industry average of 2.5 per employer. For a direct comparison, Ocongi, LLC in Tucson, AZ is a similar educational services employer with $1,500 in current penalties.

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What to check next

Lake Superior State University's record is one establishment in a larger pattern. Use it as a research checklist, not a verdict on the employer overall.

These figures are the federal enforcement record on file and reflect past inspections, not a statement about current workplace conditions. See the disclaimer for how to read them.

Data Sources & Methodology

Data as of 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Labor (OSHA, WHD).

Source: OSHA Enforcement Data

Inspection and violation records from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor, covering the period 2010–2026. Includes inspection dates, violation types (serious, willful, repeat, other-than-serious), and penalty amounts. Penalties shown are current assessed amounts and may differ from original citations due to settlement, contest, or reduction.

Source: Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

Compliance actions from the WHD, covering enforcement of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including minimum wage, overtime, and child labor violations. Back wages represent amounts owed to affected employees as determined by WHD investigations.

Employer Matching

Employers are matched across OSHA and WHD datasets by name, state, and city. Employers included in PlainWorker have 2 or more OSHA inspections or $1,000+ in WHD back wages. Data is updated monthly from data.dol.gov.

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Every figure on PlainWorker is rendered directly from official U.S. Department of Labor OSHA and Wage & Hour Division enforcement records, no number is typed in by an editor. This employer's ratios (penalty-per-violation, industry comparisons) are computed live from the 3 inspections on record. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026.